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Social learning of predators by coral reef fish: does observer number influence acquisition of information?

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Abstract

Prey that are capable of continuously learning the identity of new predators whilst adjusting the intensity of their responses to match their level of risk, are often at a substantive advantage. Learning about predators can occur through direct experience or through social learning from experienced individuals. Social learning provides individuals with an effective means of acquiring information while reducing the costs associated with direct learning. Under a natural setting, social learning is likely to occur between more than two individuals. As such, investigating the effect that group size has on the ability of individuals to acquire information is vital to understanding social learning dynamics. Given the characteristics of coral reefs and the biology of coral reef fishes, these habitats are an ideal medium to test whether group size affects the transmission of information. Using newly settled damselfish (Pomacentrus amboinensis), we examined whether the number of observers present influences transmission of information. We showed that: (1) predator recognition is socially transmitted from predator-experienced to predator-naïve individuals regardless of group size, and that (2) the level of response displayed by the observer does not differ following learning in different sized groups. Our study highlights that information on predator identities is able to be passed onto group members quickly without a dilution of information content.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks to O. Lönnstedt, J. White and R. Brooker for assistance in the field and the Australian Museum Lizard Island Research Station for providing logistical support and facilities. Thanks to P. Manassa for his artistic contribution and R. Manassa for his continued support. This study was funded through the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.

Ethical standards

The experiment was performed in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 7th Edition, 2004: (the Code) and in compliance with the Queensland Animal Care and Protection Act, 2001 (Act no. 64 of 2001; he Act) and James Cook University guidelines under approval A1067.

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Correspondence to R. P. Manassa.

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Communicated by C. M. Garcia

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Manassa, R.P., McCormick, M.I., Dixson, D.L. et al. Social learning of predators by coral reef fish: does observer number influence acquisition of information?. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 68, 1237–1244 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-014-1734-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-014-1734-7

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